FRIDAY, May 8, 2026 |
Photo – Pomeranian – Courtesy Samantha Davi
A Los Angeles-based promotional organization is looking for the best pets in Wyoming.
The Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards has teamed up with USA TODAY to find the best pets in the country. Celebrity animal trainer Nicole Ellis said the awards program is asking residents of every state, including Wyoming, to nominate their cat or dog in the national competition.
Winners are determined entirely through public voting. The top three pets in each state receive cash awards of $3,500 for first place, $1,000 for second, and $500 for third, plus a trip to Los Angeles, California, to accept their awards. Ellis said the competition follows a People’s Choice‑style format established by television producer Mike Burg, with each state’s champion advancing to the national round.
One free vote can be cast each day, but additional votes must be purchased from the Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards website. Ellis said more than half of the proceeds from paid votes are donated to Best Friends, a national animal‑welfare nonprofit focused on ending the killing of cats and dogs in shelters across the country. She said a previous nationwide competition generated over $700,000 in donations for Best Friends, prompting organizers to open the contest to individual states.
Best Friends partners with shelters across the United States, including organizations in Cheyenne and Laramie. Ellis said donations generated by the Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards go a long way toward supporting those shelters.
Applicants have until May 20th to submit their pets for the statewide competition. The entry form asks if you’re entering a dog or cat, your pet’s name, a picture, and a 50‑word statement explaining why you consider your pet to be the best in the state.
Ellis said that once entries close, anyone can visit the Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards website and cast one free vote per day.
A link to the Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards Wyoming signup page will be included in this story when it is posted to Bigfoot99.com.
The winners of each state competition will be invited to participate in the national award ceremony, hosted by comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias.
Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards Wyoming signup: Enter best in state Wyoming | Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards
